We asked the community if they’d modified their home in order to better accommodate the person they cared for.

The most common additions were:

• Shower bars
• Grip tape on stairs
• Bed rails
• Shower seat
• Stair lift
• Elevated toilet seat
• Video baby monitor

Wireless doorbell

One item I found very useful, in addition to the items others have listed here, is our Honeywell wireless doorbell purchased from Lowes. We attached the doorbell to mom’s bedrail and the speaker is across the house on our bedroom nightstand in case she needs us during the night. I can also bring the speaker outside with me when doing yard work (250 ft range). – Mike

We have the same thing and it’s a life saver. – Genie

Wheelchairs

If your person is small like my husband, you may consider getting a kid size wheelchair. It fits through those smaller doorways. – Pierrette

A note to homeowners: ADA requirements for wheelchair ramps are rules for public establishments. You do not need a 1:12 ratio in a private home. Our wheelchair vendors have said 1:9 ratio was just fine. That is what we have for our house and it has been entirely satisfactory. – Lee

Small modifications

Not big things but little things. Hand rail in the tub. Shower seat. ADA toilets. Reaching grabbers in every room. Guard rail on the bed with a yoga strap to roll over. That bed rail is the one I used when I was little. It is metal and super strong. – Alicia

Removed all rugs, built handicap ramp, installed railings in bathrooms, bought a swivel shower chair for the tub/shower, removed the door into the master bath for ease of entering, have hospital bed and bedside commode for nighttime use, electric recliner for ease of use…monitors in the great room and bedroom. – Deb

We have chain locks- up high on all doors since my son is a “wander/runner” with asd. We also have all cabinet doors with magnet locks and I can’t decorate for the holidays. – Danielle

We have installed hand rails in my Mom’s bathroom and shower to keep her safe. Bedside rails in her room. We also modified appliances when she was able to use them (she is sight impaired). We are still trying to figure out what to do with our stairs. We have a 4×4 at the top of the stairs and when Mom hits it with her walker, she knows to go around. Most of the time. Sometimes she just keeps pushing and banging against the barrier and I’m afraid she will topple over. My biggest fear is that she will fall down the stairs. – Kathy

Haven’t had the money to do much. We have a walk in shower, but she wont’ use it. Taller toilets. I had handrails installed on both sides of the stairs. I also have a video baby monitor in my moms room so if she gets up, I can see and hear her. She isn’t too mobile, so she comes down in the morning, then stays down until she goes to bed. – Julie

My family installed rails and put in a safe shower with no slip bottom. I have alzheimer locks and door alarms. recently added a driveway alarm to the door which I like better as the alarm rings at my bed if someone crosses the door and goes out the sliding glass door. – Cindy

We added rails to the front and back porches. We installed a handle bar on the rear door. All rugs were removed as well as the floor transition panels between each room. Also installed bathroom bars. Other minor changes done as well. – Sharma

Custom windows with tempered glass and special locks for my autistic teen who kept breaking the glass. – Karen

A nice ramp and deck in the back of my house (front yard is too small for a straight ramp), new doorknobs (more like handles) on her bedroom door and the bathroom door, and I removed all my pretty rugs from my hardwood floors. (Tripping hazard). Other things I can’t think of now. – Angela

While she was still in the ICU I had her mom get in touch with my wife’s uncle to have railings installed up both sides of each set of stairs. Also because she was a flight risk I hung bells on the bedroom door so that I would awaken if she tried to escape at night. – Andrea

I added a stair glide stair lift to take Daddy up and down the steps. Also railing for the shower and a shower seat. It was a slide chair….1/2 out of bath and 1/2 in, He sat and lifted his good leg over tub and I then lifted the bad one. He scooted over. Worked well. Sooooo much change in life when being a caregiver. – Mary

The VA came in and did an assessment. They put in ramps, stair lifts, hand held shower nozzles, shower seats and grab bars! We were so grateful, because my father in law really benefitted from the modifications! – Sharon

Remodeling

We set up ramps, chair lift, tub rails, adult height counters in both kitchen and bath. Remodeled complete basement with wide doorways and easy two and three way lighting including switches with remotes for easy lighting. – Linda

Adding on an accessible bathroom was cheaper than remodeling our master bath (which had already been completely gutted and remodeled already.) Its an option worth considering. An additional bathroom almost always adds value to your home. – Libbi

Handicapped height toilets. A new bathroom for him; toilet, sink, and a shower with a bench, hand held option for showering, and no doors or curtain. There is a drain in the middle of the floor. Easy for me to shower him and I don’t have to lift him in and out of the tub anymore. Ramps for front and back doors so that he can be more independent and there’s less worry of him falling. Half in ground pool so we can get him in and out more easily and safely. No throw rugs; they’re a trip hazard. Wider doorways for when he needs his wheelchair, which is every night and morning when his orthotics are not on. We also bought him an adjustable bed to help with reflux disease. – Ginnie

Installed wheelchair ramps, converted basement bathroom walk in shower by expanding the room to a roll in shower room, add’d a Acorn stair lift , mounted a chain above bed for lifting & adjusting self, hand rail and Auqa bath lift seat for main floor bath that was replaced with a hydrotherapy jetted tub, 2 shower/potty chairs. 2 push behind wheelchairs ( 1 for main floor 1 for basement) 2 electric recliner chairs 1 for basement 1 for main floor. a single electric bed for main floor living room and a queen size electric bed for basement bedroom, monitors, and handicap van. – Brenda

Outside the home too. Lots of cement walkways wide enough for wheelchairs, raised beds, keeping plants near to discourage wheelchair in dirt/mud. – Kathleen

Presently under remodeling…..it’s getting on my nerves but it has to be done. Widen doors, ramps, new walk in shower, remove carpets and replace with laminate wood. – Delisha

We gutted the main floor and widened hall, doors, opened kitchen, 5′ turn around in master bath with raised toilet and roll in shower, ramp in side entrance, chair lift to basement, eliminated any raise at deck door, other doors out, van conversion, these were the major things. – Sue

Moving

Initially yes. But then the old house became very impractical even with modifications so we had to move altogether to a much more care friendly home. Life is easier and more comfortable now. – Frances

Moved in Dec to home with a more open floor plan & thought everything was good. In Jan we took out carpet in mom’s bedroom & installed tile. Removed bathtub, toilet, & vanity in her bath & make walk in shower, handicapped toilet, new vanity & grab bars everywhere. Approximately $15k we hadn’t planned to spend. – Danette

We had to be moved to a bungalow because my son has Huntingtons disease. It has a wet room. No other modifications. As apart from bubble wrapping the whole contents of our home this dreadful disease doesn’t really ‘do modifications’ just danger with no solutions 🙁 We get by on a wing n a prayer x – Shelli

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